Travel Channel crew focuses on Peanut Bar in Reading for show (WITH VIDEO)

Cameramen from a Travel Channel crew shoot footage Wednesday in front of Jimmie Kramer's Peanut Bar on Penn Street. Among those on hand to greet the crew were two Belgian draft horses pulling an old beer wagon supplied by the D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. brewery in Pottsville.

For hungry and thirsty travelers, Jimmie Kramer's Peanut Bar in Reading has always been a special destination.

That's its story in a nutshell - from one end of the bar's peanut-shell-covered floor to the other, and soon, from one end of the country to the other.

A five-member Travel Channel crew with the show "Food Paradise" zoomed into town Wednesday and put the spotlight on the 84-year-old city landmark. It will be featured in a program on popular bar food to be broadcast sometime in early December.

The crew was met by Harold B. Leifer, 83, Peanut Bar chief executive officer, and his son, Michael, 47, restaurant president, as well as two Belgian draft horses pulling an old beer wagon supplied by the D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. brewery, Pottsville.

The owners and horses also were joined by a "family" of customers who, in many cases, consider the Peanut Bar their second home.

"I think they (the Travel Channel) found us on the Internet and were interested in including us as one of the segments for a program on bar food," Michael Leifer said. "Obviously, we were interested."

With chef James Lesniak specializing in exotic tapas (small appetizers created in three or four minutes), the food was an obvious draw.

But what apparently piqued curiosity at the Travel Channel was the social atmosphere and long history of the city bar.

Founded in 1924 during Prohibition, the Peanut Bar has an atmosphere often compared with that of the friendly Boston bar "Cheers" of TV fame. It, too, is just another place where "everyone knows your name."

"We are very fortunate to have been here this long and we owe it to our customers and a fine staff," Michael Leifer said. "Many of our customers have become like friends and family."

Busy filming the Leifers, their customers and staff throughout the evening, Whit Rummel, Travel Channel field producer, and his assistant, Marin Tolkman, had little time for chit-chat.

But they were intrigued with the bar's omnipresent bowls of peanuts and the shells on the floor, ever crunchy to the feet. Apparently, they make the place distinct.

"My grandfather insisted the customers toss the cracked shells on the floor to make everyone relax, feel at home," Michael Leifer said. "It has remained a tradition."

While waiting for their dinner, Helen Townley of Wyomissing and Deb Heffner of Pike Township, Peanut Bar patrons for about 20 years, said the bar is outstanding for food, friendship and atmosphere.

"Where else can you bring your children for years and have them throw peanuts on the floor?" Townley said. "It's like being home, but having more food variety."

And Rudy and Roberta Schmehl, Ontelaunee Township, gave the ultimate testimonial to the Peanut Bar, where they've been coming since 1972: They've celebrated all the birthdays of their twins - Collin and Courtney, 25 - there.

"We've had 114 family birthdays here because we belong to the restaurant's birthday club," Rudy Schmehl said.

The twins were born on Christmas but the Peanut Bar is closed Christmas Day.

"We'd come every Christmas Eve to celebrate," said Roberta Schmehl, "sometimes pretty late in the afternoon around 4:30 p.m., when employees were eager to get home for the holiday.

"Michael would always say when the Schmehls get here, that's when we'll close," she said.